District Update
A weekly update from Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Walled Lake Consolidated School District Update: Dec. 3, 2021
We hope you'll review this week's District Update filled with news and notes from across the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Stay up to date with District updates by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the District on social media - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Reminders for Families:
- District CLOSED - Dec. 2-3
- Half-Day for Elementary Students - Dec. 9 | 11:25 a.m. dismissal for all elementary schools / (Parent/Teacher Conferences from 12-8 p.m.)
- WL Western Collage Concert - Dec. 9-10
WLCSD Community Update - Dec. 3
We remain committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, parents, and community, and we deeply appreciate your partnership in this endeavor. Following the tragic events in Oxford and our two days of school closures this week, we want to take this opportunity to connect with you on a series of topics.
A word of caution for our students, families, and staff about news and media consumption during this difficult time. A term with which we all became all too familiar at the height of the pandemic is “doom scrolling,” and the same is true here. Please consider limiting your consumption of upsetting news and posts on social media and via broadcast media.
Please have the conversation with your family that ALL threats, even those made in a joking manner, are investigated fully and taken seriously in this District. There is nothing humorous about impacting the safety of others. Also, if you or your child sees or hears threats please contact your local police agency and your building principal. You can also report them using the OK2SAY app or call (855) 565-2729 or text 652729.
This is a truly horrific situation and we encourage anyone struggling with the aftermath associated with what happened at Oxford High School last week to please reach out to a teacher, administrator, counselor, and/or adult in our school buildings for assistance. This tragic event serves as an opportunity for us to come together and support one another as one singular Walled Lake Schools family.
For families seeking a way to talk with their children about this week’s events, you may find the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) website to be a helpful starting point. Non-specific safety conversations may be more appropriate for younger students and may begin with presentations such as these found on the Johns Hopkins site for K-2 grade and 3-5 grade safety in schools.
Please take today and the upcoming weekend to be with your loved ones, hug each other a little tighter, and remember that our District is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. We will be communicating next steps with you soon, but for now please take care of yourselves and one another.
Optional OCHD Vaccine Clinic on Dec. 3 - Relocated
The Oakland County Health Division was scheduled to host an optional follow up vaccine clinic at WL Central High School this evening. Today's building closure has required the following changes to the clinic:
- The December 3 OCHD clinic has been relocated to Waterford Oaks County Park
- OCHD will be contacting those who received their first dose of the vaccine at the November 12 clinic at WL Central to inform them of this change
- If you or anyone you know has questions regarding this relocation, please contact the Oakland County Nurse on Call at 1-800-848-5533 or email noc@oakgov.com
- Visit the Oakland County Vaccine hub for more information.
FINAL "Walk into Walled Lake" - Dec. 7!
The District previously hosted two successful “Walk into Walled Lake” events on Nov. 11 & 23. The final informational community employment session is coming up on Tuesday, Dec. 7. This information session will allow members of the community to learn more about the District and how they can support the schools by filling needed positions within the schools. Attendees will then have the opportunity to apply and participate in walk-in job interviews for needed positions such as substitute teachers, paraeducators, before and after school care, food service employees, custodians, and transportation.
Candidates interested in earning a competitive wage, while serving their community are invited to Walk into Walled Lake from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the District’s Educational Services Center (850 Ladd Road, Building D, Walled Lake, 48390) on Tuesday, December 7.
Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with District representatives, learn more information specific to their job interests, and will be able to complete the application process on-site.
Questions can be directed to WLCSD Human Resource Executive Manager, Brad Paddock by email at BradleyPaddock@wlcsd.org, or by phone at 248-956-2192.
Walled Lake Schools ESSER III Funding Stakeholder Input Survey - Respond by Dec. 8!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our District has received additional funding from both the state and federal levels to assist in providing necessary programs and support for our students, staff and families.
In order to meet our goals of transparency and being good financial stewards of our community’s resources, we humbly request feedback from all stakeholders on our District’s latest round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding.
Before completing the survey linked below, please watch this short video webinar in which Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Gutman, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Teri Les provide the necessary background information for the survey including what the ESSER funds are used for and why stakeholder feedback is so important.
After reviewing this short video webinar, please be sure to fill out the short survey linked below. Responses must be submitted by Wednesday, December 8.
The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is fortunate to have such a supportive and collaborative community and we once again call on that spirit of community with our latest survey feedback opportunity. Thank you for your time and your continued partnership as we serve Every Child, Every Day.
WLCSD Transportation Update - Dec. 6-10
Despite an increase in applications and new hires entering the Dean Transportation training program, we’ve been informed that our recent bus route cancellations will remain with us for the next several weeks as new staff members are hired and trained. While we deeply regret the imposition this creates for our families, we acknowledge these cancellations were necessary to safely provide transportation services to as many of our WLCSD families as possible.
Out of fairness to the families already impacted by previous weeks’ cancellations, we will be cancelling different routes each week throughout the District to help share the burden this unfortunate situation creates. *Please note, we are back to the beginning of the bus route cancellation rotation so several of these routes were recently cancelled as part of our district-wide cancellations.
Starting next week, December 6-10, the following buses/routes will be cancelled:
Bus 124 - St. Patrick's Shuttle, Sarah Banks MS, Wixom El
Bus 135 - WL Western HS, Geisler MS, Hickory Woods El
Bus 142 - WL Northern HS, Clifford Smart MS, Commerce El
Bus 148 - WL Western HS, Banks MS, Loon Lake El
Bus 150 - WL Northern HS, Clifford Smart MS, Dublin El
Bus 151 - WL Central HS, Walnut Creek MS, Pleasant Lake El
Bus 154 - WL Northern HS, Clifford Smart MS, Keith El
Bus 158 - WL Western HS, Geisler MS, Guest El
Bus 162 - WL Western HS, Sarah Banks MS, Walled Lake El
Bus 164 - WL Central HS, Geisler MS, Glengary El
Please note, ALL students who have specialized transportation plans that are contained in an IEP will NOT see a disruption in service.
For those families impacted by these temporary cancellations who need childcare assistance, please contact our fee-based Prime Time Care office at 248-956-5110 for more information on availability.
COVID Dashboard Reminders - 2021-22
The WLCSD COVID-19 dashboard is updated each weekday before 9:30 a.m. with the positive cases in the schools of which we have been made aware and the Oakland County two-week positive cases. It is updated Friday morning with Thursday’s school district cases per 10,000 incidence rate which is released by Oakland County only on Thursdays. It is not updated during holidays or on weekends. The numbers change daily as a result of new cases being added, as well as resolved cases being removed after 10 days. If a staff member is at more than one school, the case will be reflected at all schools, so the positive case count may appear higher than the actual number of staff that are positive. The information is available on the District website and is also sent as a link in each weekly parent update.
Notification emails are also sent from each building when positive cases are identified. One is sent to every family if the positive case is within your child’s classroom(s). An additional email is sent to all grade-level families at the elementary level. Please note, that this can be confusing at the middle school and high school levels, as your child can be in multiple classes with the student/staff member that tested positive. Although student/staff member information cannot be given, please do reach out to the principal if there is any confusion.
23rd Annual Dr. MLK, Jr. Day Express Yourself Contest
How?
- Express the theme, “Together We’re Better!” in your own unique way. There are lots of possibilities for creating a project. It can be a piece of writing, music, art, or other visual that shows how you want to make a positive change and/or impact in the world.
- Fill out an entry form (see back) and attach your entry to the form.
When? Turn in your entry to your school’s office by Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
The event's keynote speaker at the MLK Celebration will be Rabbi Yarden Blumstein. He will share his experience with bringing people together within our local community.
Please complete the entry form available by clicking the button below.
Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Nominations Accepted NOW!
The committee hopes that each school building will nominate at least one staff member, student, and parent or community member for the Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award. Nominations will be submitted to the Walled Lake School Central Office administration for final selection. Nomination forms should be returned to your school principal no later than Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
Please complete the application available by clicking on the button below.
In the News
Childcare Staff Needed!
Transportation Staff Needed!
Substitutes Needed!
Upcoming Events:
District Resources:
Golden Apple Award Nominations - 2021-22
School Menu Adjustments - Nationwide Food Disruptions
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are seeing nationwide disruptions to manufacturing, supply and distribution channels. You may have experienced this yourself while shopping online or in stores. This disruption also impacts school meals, as we navigate obtaining certain foods and supplies. Students may notice that we’re serving menu items that were not previously available or listed on menus.
While this situation is out of our control and something that school districts all across the country are experiencing, we are doing our best every day to come up with solutions to these challenges. We will continue serving our students a variety of nutritious foods, our menus will continue to be updated here as we see changes. Everything we serve will continue to meet nutrition guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). All schools that operate the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program must follow these guidelines. We will also continue to accommodate students with special dietary restrictions and allergies.
We remain committed to providing our students with the nutritious meals they need to grow and learn. We appreciate your patience and understanding. As a reminder, school meals are free for all students again this school year. If you have questions, please contact Julie Fortner, Food Services Supervisor at 248-956-3080.
District Links:
2021-22 WLCSD School Year FAQ
WLCSD Learning Newsletter
Walled Lake E-Sports
WL Adult Education
Support Hunter's Recovery
Support the Jessica Starr Splash Pad!
WLCSD Stormwater Management
FFE News and Notes
Lakes Area Community Coalition
Hospitality House Food Pantry
Connect with Us!
Our mission, in partnership with parents and the community, is to become the best educational system in America so all students demonstrate they are caring, responsible, and knowledgeable citizens.
Email: danieldurkin@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org
Location: 850 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 956-2000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wlcsd/
Twitter: @WalledLkSchools